Harry Kane has finally ended his lengthy pursuit of a major trophy at the senior level for club or country. Bayern Munich officially secured the Bundesliga title on Sunday, completing their domestic campaign with games to spare. While Bayern narrowly missed sealing the league themselves in a 3-3 draw with RB Leipzig on Saturday, Bayer Leverkusen`s subsequent 2-2 draw against Freiburg on Sunday confirmed the title for Vincent Kompany`s side, establishing an unassailable eight-point lead at the top of the table.
While this Bundesliga triumph is a familiar achievement for many players in the Bayern squad, it marks the first senior team honour of Harry Kane`s career. He made the move to Bayern in the summer of 2023 after spending nearly a decade as a key player for his boyhood club Tottenham Hotspur. His transfer to the German giants was motivated by a desire for major trophies and increased involvement in the UEFA Champions League. Although his initial season saw Bayern finish without silverware, they have reversed their fortunes this time around.
Kane`s career has often been discussed in the context of his lack of trophies, but as the 31-year-old shared with CBS Sports Golazo Network`s Morning Footy last month, this focus has not affected his personal drive or his status as one of the era`s most prolific goalscorers.
“I know there`s a lot of talk about the trophies and whether I finish with one trophy or 20 trophies, I don`t think it`ll change my mindset,” Kane said. “Every day when I wake up, it`s to be the best person, to be the best teammate, the best player I can be and I feel like I`m in the height of my prime right now so I want to play at the highest player whilst I feel like this for as long as possible.”
As Kane and his teammates celebrate in Munich, let`s take a look at some key statistics from the England captain`s journey leading up to this momentous first major title.League Finishes: One Runner-Up Spot
Kane`s teams haven`t always been consistent title contenders, but he was part of one side that finished second in the league table. This wasn`t with last season`s Bayern team, but rather the 2016-17 Tottenham Hotspur squad managed by Mauricio Pochettino, who finished behind a dominant Chelsea side but enjoyed one of Spurs` most successful recent campaigns.
International Tournament Heartbreak: Near Misses with England
Kane`s quest for silverware also includes his time with the national team. As a crucial player for a talented England side, he has experienced significant near-misses in major international tournaments, notably reaching the final of the Euros in 2021 where they fell short against Italy at Wembley Stadium.
Club Cup Finals: Three Runner-Up Finishes
The 31-year-old striker also came close to winning cup competitions at the club level on three separate occasions with Tottenham Hotspur, none of which were with Bayern. Spurs were defeated in the EFL Cup finals in 2015 and 2021, and also lost the 2019 Champions League final to Liverpool at Madrid`s Metropolitano Stadium, another significant achievement during the Pochettino era despite the final loss.
Golden Boots: Individual Scoring Prowess
In stark contrast to his team trophy drought, Kane has excelled individually, winning multiple Golden Boot awards across various competitions. These include three Premier League titles (2015-16, 2016-17, 2020-21), the Golden Boot at the 2018 FIFA World Cup, and he is the overwhelming favourite to win the 2023-24 Bundesliga Golden Boot, currently leading with 24 goals with two games remaining.
Total Goals: 447 Career Goals
Another testament to Kane`s remarkable goalscoring ability is his career total. He has scored 447 goals at the senior level for both club and country, a number that is expected to rise considerably in the coming years, provided he stays fit.
Games Played: 694 Appearances
Kane waited over 600 games to lift his first major trophy. This statistic, combined with his goal tally, highlights his incredible consistency and attacking prowess: he has scored in approximately 64% of the senior games he has played for club and country.
Adrian Whitmore